Apache helicopters set for delivery within two weeks after India-U.S. defence talks

Following India-U.S. Defence Ministers talk, the long-awaited Apache combat helicopters to be delivered in next two weeks.

A top source in Defence Ministery confirmed that it has been communicated to them that first batch of three Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the United States will be delivered by July 15. And next batch of three helicopters will be delivered by November this year.

The development comes after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) held a phone conversation with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Both the leaders reviewed ongoing and upcoming initiatives to enhance defence cooperation between India and the United States.

The official confirmed refused to reveal any specific time frame related to delivery of GE jet engines for LCA Tejas.

The delivery of six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Army under a $600 million deal signed with the United States in 2020 has missed multiple deadlines. Originally scheduled for May–June 2024, the delivery timeline was pushed to December 2024 citing supply chain disruptions.

Last year, Indian Army Aviation Corps raised its first Squadron at Jodhpur that will operate the Apache helicopters but they were waiting for helicopters for over 15 months. The induction of the Apache helicopter is part of the modernisation programme of the Army’s Aviation Corp. The deployment of helicopters along western border will further strengthen Army’s combat capabilities.

U.S. Department of Defense on July 2 released a statement saying that on July 1, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke with India’s Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh. Secretary Hegseth emphasized the priority the United States places on India as its key defense partner in South Asia.

The statement further reads that Secretary Hegseth and Minister Singh reviewed the considerable progress both countries have made toward achieving the defense goals set out in the February 2025 joint statement by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. The two discussed pending major U.S. defense sales to India and the imperative of close defense industrial cooperation between the two countries.

“Secretary Hegseth and Minister Singh agreed to sign the next ten-year U.S.-India Defense Framework when they next meet this year,’ said the statement.